Pubdate: Sat, 05 Apr 2014
Source: Guelph Mercury (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 Metroland Media Group Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.guelphmercury.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1418
Author: Greg Mercer
Page: A9
Referenced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z-oBkgJ4Ow

WHY THE FUSS?

In defence of Robert Munsch

What's in a name? For some people in Mount Albert, Ont., quite a lot,
apparently. School officials in the community south of Lake Simcoe are
dealing with a surprising pushback over plans for a new school, set to
open next fall. The problem? The school's name - Robert Munsch Public
School.

Munsch, the Guelph-based author of bestselling children's books that
include Love You Forever and Paper Bag Princess, has done far more for
children's literary understanding than most of us will ever do. His
wildly entertaining stories and his exuberant public performances make
reading fun for kids. But some people, according to a story in a York
Region newspaper this week, have taken issue with Munsch being
honoured in Mount Albert.

Coun. Cathy Morton said she's heard "many complaints" from residents
about the name of the school, including some who are upset over the
author's background.

That's right. The character of Munsch, who has talked publicly about
his struggles with mental illness and alcohol and drug addiction, is
being called into question.

Munsch, who was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1999, doesn't
hide his skeletons in his closet. He's been diagnosed as
obsessive-compulsive and manic-depressive, and in the past turned to
booze and even cocaine to deal with it.

"Those challenges have led me to make some big mistakes," he says on
his own website.

And for some small-minded folks, that's simply unforgivable.

Never mind how silly it is to focus on the name of a school instead of
the quality of the education inside. Never mind how unfair it is to
focus on Munsch's personal flaws, instead of the vast contribution
he's made to children's literature. It's also just plainly ridiculous.
If we have an issue with naming schools after people who struggle with
alcoholism, we may want to revisit all those Sir John A. Macdonald
schools planted across the country. The drinking problem of Canada's
first prime minister was the stuff of legend, and yet we've forgiven
him.

It sure can be troublesome when people's public image is overshadowed
by their personal struggles. But a name is just a name, and this fuss
over Munsch's struggles is overblown.

Munsch's name has already been lent to another Ontario school - Robert
Munsch Public School in Whitby, built in 2009. There, no one seems to
care about his personal problems.

"Robert Munsch embodies literacy," the school's vice-principal Jack
Barclay told the Toronto Sun last year. "He embodies reading and
represents a fun approach to learning for our kids."

So he's struggled with addiction. So what?

What are we really teaching kids when we adults get all worked up over
something as stupid as this? We're teaching them to pass judgment on
people with mental health problems, and the poor choices they can
sometimes make.

There's a valuable lesson in there somewhere, I'm sure of it.
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MAP posted-by: Matt